Decorative element for a shelf

ABSTRACT

A decorative element that can be mounted to an existing shelf is disclosed. The decorative element can also be horizontally leveled to itself. Additionally, the decorative element may also be leveled with adjacent decorative elements so that the ends of adjacent decorative elements can be matched to each other to provide the appearance of one long unit. The exterior aesthetic appearance of the first and second decorative elements may appear to be in line with each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The various embodiments and aspects described herein relate to a decorative element that can be mounted to an existing shelf.

Prior art shelves may be mounted to a wall. Two or more prior art shelves may be aligned horizontally to each other in order to extend the shelf. However, the exterior appearance of the shelves mounted to the wall form discrete individual shelves which may be aesthetically displeasing. Moreover, the prior art shelves themselves may not be aesthetically pleasing.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method and apparatus for improving the aesthetics of shelves.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The various embodiments and aspects described herein address the needs discussed above, discussed below and those that are known in the art.

An apparatus and method for improving the aesthetics of a shelf or a plurality of shelves are disclosed. One or more shelves may be mounted to a wall. The front of the shelves may be visually unappealing because it shows a flat planar member which may be mounted to a wall. Decorative elements are mounted to the planar member. Moreover, the decorative elements may be adjustably mounted to each of the shelves laterally as well as vertically. When two or more decorative elements are mounted to the planar member, then adjacent ends of adjacent decorative elements may be aligned to and butted up against each other. In this manner, the exterior appearance of the shelf is improved and the decorative elements may be extended over a long length so that a plurality of shelves and decorative elements appears to be one long shelf instead of two or more discrete shelves and decorative elements.

More particularly, a system for improving aesthetics of a shelf is disclosed. The system may comprise a decorative element, a bracket and a plurality of fasteners. The decorative element may be attached to the front portion of a planar member of the shelf. Optionally, the decorative element may have left and right ends which are mirror configurations of each other so that adjacent decorative elements shelves are capable of being connected end to end to create an appearance of a single decorative element. The bracket may have top and bottom members and an upper front member connecting the top and bottom members. The top member may rest on a top surface of the planar member to support the decorative element. The bottom member may have a plurality of holes. The fasteners may be inserted into the plurality of holes in the bottom member to take up a gap between the bottom member and a bottom surface of the planar member.

The system may further comprise a foam adhesive strip which may be inserted between the top member and the top surface of the shelf during installation to level and align the decorative element and to align adjacent decorative elements.

The system may also further comprise a lower front member attached to the upper front member. The upper and lower front members may have a plurality of holes for securing the decorative element to the upper and lower front members.

The bracket may be fabricated from a rigid polyvinyl chloride material.

The decorative element may be fabricated from a polymeric material such as a semi soft PVC or polyvinyl chloride material.

The fasteners are expandable after insertion of the fastener into the hole to lock the fastener in place.

The upper front member may have a plurality of holes. The lower front member may also have a plurality of holes. The fasteners may be inserted into the plurality of holes in opposing directions to secure the decorative element to the bracket.

In another aspect, a method of attaching and leveling a decorative element to a shelf is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of attaching a first decorative element to a first planar member mounted to a wall, the attaching the first decorative element comprising the steps of: securing a first bracket to the first planar member; securing the first decorative element to the first bracket; and leveling the first decorative element, the leveling step comprising the step of: adjusting vertical positioning of left and right sides of the first bracket.

In the method, the adjusting vertical positioning step may comprise the step of inserting a compressible foam between the first bracket and the first planar member; and compressing the compressible foam to adjust for the vertical position of the bracket.

The method may further comprise the steps of attaching a second decorative element to a second planar member mounted to the wall, the attaching the second decorative element comprising the steps of: securing a second bracket to the second planar member; securing the second decorative element to the second bracket; and leveling the first and second decorative elements to each other, the leveling step comprising the step of: adjusting vertical positioning of each of the first and second brackets until the first and second decorative elements are leveled to each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a decorative element mounted to a planar member of a shelf which is mounted to a wall;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the decorative element and planar member shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a fastening mechanism used to mount the decorative element to the planar member shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, a decorative element 16 mountable to a planar member 24 of a shelf 12 is shown. The decorative element improves the aesthetics of the shelf 12 by providing a different façade to the shelf 12. Additionally, two or more decorative elements may be mounted to two or more shelves. In particular, two or more shelves 12 may be mounted to a wall 14 horizontally adjacent to each other. One decorative element 16 may be mounted to each of the shelves 12. Each of the decorative elements 16 may be adjusted laterally as well as vertically on the planar member 24 so that adjacent decorative elements 16 mounted to the shelves may be aligned to each other to create an illusion of one long unit. Optionally, the decorative element 16 may be provided along with the shelf 12 as a shelving system 10.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a decorative element 16 may be mounted to a shelf 12. The left and right ends 18, 20 of the decorative element 16 may be minor contours of each other. If and when two or more decorative elements 16 are placed adjacent to each other, then the left end 18 of the right decorative element 16 may be matched up to the right end 20 of the left decorative element 16. The left and right decorative elements 16 may mesh together like a puzzle, to provide the illusion of one long shelf instead of multiple discrete shelves. In order to match the left end 18 of the right decorative element 16 to the right end 20 of the left decorative element 16, each of the decorative elements 16 may be horizontally shifted on the planar member 24 of the shelf to the left or right to align adjacent left and right decorative elements 16. Moreover, the left and right sides of each of the decorative elements 16 may be raised a different amount to level the decorative elements 16 to adjacent decorative elements 16.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in order to provide for adjustable mounting of the decorative element 16 to the planar member 24 of the shelf, the decorative element may have a bracket 22. The bracket of the decorative element 16 is adjustably secured to a planar member 24 of the shelf 12. The planar member 24 may be secured to the wall 14. The planar member 24 may be an elongate rectangular board that is mounted to the wall 14 with an angle bracket 26. The angle brackets 26 may be secured to the wall 14 at regular intervals. Preferably, there are at least two angle brackets 26 supporting one planar member 24. The angle brackets 26 are horizontally spaced apart from each other to provide sufficient support for all of the planar members 24. Preferably, the angle brackets 26 are provided at the same elevational height 28 to level the planar member 24.

The planar member 24 has been described as being a planar wooden member 24. However, other types of planar members 24 are also contemplated. By way of example and not limitation, the planar member 24 may be fabricated from plastic or other rigid materials sufficient to support an object 30 (e.g., flower vase, potted plant) thereon without significant bending or deformation of the planar member 24. The brackets 26 are secured to the wall 14 and the planar member 24 by way of screws or bolts 32.

After the brackets 26 for the planar member 24 are secured to the wall 14, the planar members 24 should be horizontally leveled. However, due to mounting inconsistencies and warpage of the planar member 24, the opposed left and right ends 18, 20 of the planar members 24 may not line up to each other. Nonetheless, the decorative elements 16 may be adjustably secured to the planar member 24 to account for any elevational misalignment of the planar member 24. Moreover, the decorative elements 16 may be adjusted left to right to adjust for any centering issues.

Additionally, if multiple shelves 12 are mounted next to each other and it is desired to have the appearance of one long shelf 12, then a plurality of planar member 24 may be mounted to the wall with brackets 26 and horizontally leveled to each other to the best of the installer's ability. Thereafter, multiple decorative elements are mounted to a front portion of the planar members 24. The left and right ends of adjacent decorative elements may be mirror images of each other so that they can be meshed to each other provide aesthetic continuity between adjacent decorative elements 16. Each of the decorative elements 16 may be independent adjusted left to right on the planar member 24. Also, the left and right sides of each of the decorative elements 16 may be elevationally adjusted so that the ends 18, 20 of adjacent decorative elements 16 may be matched up to each other.

The decorative element 16 may be adjustably secured to the planar member 24 by way of a bracket 22. The bracket 22 may be rigidly secured to the decorative element 16. In other words, the relative position between the decorative element 16 and the bracket 22 is preferably immobilized. The bracket 22 may have top and bottom members 34, 36 and an upper front member 38 connecting the top and bottom members 34, 36. The top and bottom members 34, 36 may have a gap 40 there between 34, 36. The gap 40 may be sufficiently large to allow for adjustment up-and-down for the decorative element 16 to account for any elevational misalignment in the planar member 24 or between adjacent planar members 24. Additionally, the gap 40 may be sufficiently large so that a fastener 42 may be used to clamp the bracket 22 onto the planar member 24.

Most panel members 24 have a thickness of about 0.6 inch to 0.8 inch. As such, the gap 40 is greater than the thickness of the panel member 24 plus also provide for operation of the fastener used to clamp the bracket 22 to the panel member 24. As such, the gap 40 may be about 1 to 1.5 inches. Other dimensions are also contemplated.

The bracket 22 may also have a lower front member 44. The upper and lower front members 38, 44 may be secured to the decorative element 16. In particular, the decorative element 16 may have a plurality of holes 46 formed in a pattern. The upper holes 46 may be offset from the lower holes 46, as shown in FIG. 1. However, it is also contemplated that the upper and lower holes may be vertically aligned. Moreover, the upper and lower holes 46 may be positioned near the left and right ends of the decorative element 16 to hold the decorative element 16 flat to the bracket 22. The upper and lower front members 38, 44 of the bracket may have a matching set of holes 48 to the plurality of holes 46 in the decorative element 16. The decorative element 16 is placed against the bracket 22 so that the holes 46 in the decorative element 16 are aligned to the holes 48 of the upper and lower front members 38, 44. The fasteners 42 may be pushed through the holes 46, 48 of the upper front member 38 and the decorative element 16 in a first direction while other fasteners 42 are pushed through the holes 46, 48 of the lower front member 44 and the decorative element 16 in an opposite second direction, as shown in FIG. 2. It is also contemplated that the fasteners 42 may be pushed through the holes 46, 48 of the decorative element and the bracket 22 in the same direction (e.g., either first direction or the second direction).

The fastener 42 is shown in FIG. 3 which illustrates one preferred type of fastener. The fastener 42 has an inner part 50 and an outer part 52. To insert the fastener 42 into a hole 46, 48, the inner part 50 is pulled out of the outer part 52. In doing so, the outer part 52 is allowed to be inserted into the hole 46, 48. More particularly, the outer part 52 has left and right flanges 54, 56. Each of the left and right flanges 54, 56 has ridges 58. The left and right flanges 54, 56 can be deflected inward when the inner part 50 is pulled out. When the inner part 50 is pushed in, the left and right flanges 54, 56 are spread apart and cannot be deflected inward. The outer diameter of the left and right flanges 54, 56 is increased. The holes 46, 48 are sized so that the left and right flanges 54, 56 have a friction fit with the holes 46, 48 when the fastener 42 is inserted into the hole 46, 48 and the inner part 50 is pushed in. The ridges 58 dig into the inner surface 62 of the hole 46, 48.

To secure the decorative element 16 to the bracket 22, the holes 46 of the decorative element 16 and the holes 48 of the bracket 22 are lined up. The inner part 50 is pulled backward so that the flanges 54, 56 can be compressed in as the fastener 42 is being pushed into the respective holes 46, 48. Once the fastener 42 is inserted into the respective holes 46, 48, the user pushes the inner part 50 inward so that the flanges 54, 56 spread open. The ridges 58 of the flanges 54, 56 dig into the inner surface 62 of the holes 46, 48. Some of the fasteners 42 are pushed through the holes 46, 48 in a first direction, whereas other fasteners 42 are pushed in the opposite direction. At this point, the bracket 22 is securely attached to the decorative element 16.

To attach the decorative element to the planar member 24 of the shelf, the planar member 24 is disposed between the top and bottom members 34, 36 of the bracket 22. An adhesive foam 64 may be attached to the bottom side of the top member 34. The adhesive foam 64 may not have any adhesive on its bottom side so that the adhesive foam 64 only lays on top of the planar member 24. To secure the bracket 22 to the planar member 24, the bottom member 36 has a plurality of through holes 66 in which the fastener 42 is placed. The fastener 42 is pushed through the holes 66 and a distal end 68 of the fastener 42 is pushed into the bottom surface of the planar member 24. The more that the fasteners 42 are pushed into the through holes 66, the foam 64 compresses more so so as to lower the decorative element 16. This allows the installer to level the decorative element to surround features as well as to itself. Moreover, the fastener 42 and the top member 34 are clamped onto the planar member 24 to secure the bracket 22 to the planar member 24 of the shelf 12.

The attachment means for attaching the decorative element 16 to the planar member 24 provides for lateral adjustment of the decorative element as well as elevational adjustment on either ends 18, 20 of the decorative element 16. Referring back to FIG. 1, the decorative element 16 may be shifted to the left or right. Once in position, the lower side of the foam 64 may have a high friction surface so as to facilitate non-movement of the bracket 22 and the decorative element 16 once the decorative element is in place.

Elevational adjustment on either ends 18, 20 of the decorative element 16 may also be made. In particular, thick compressible adhesive foam 64 may be inserted between the top member 34 of the bracket 22 and the planar member 24 to raise the decorative element 16. By pressing in the fastener 24 further into the hole 66 of the bottom member 36 of the bracket 22, the adhesive foam is compressed so as to lower the decorative element. In doing so, the decorative element 16 may be leveled by regulating how much the fastener is pushed into the hole 66. The ends of adjacent decorative elements can be aligned to each other so that the aesthetics of the shelving system 10 may appear as long as one shelf and does not need to be visually presented as a plurality of discrete shelves.

The drawings and embodiments described herein in relation to the modular decorative shelving system 10 describe the system 10 as having one decorative element 16 for each planar member 24. However, it is also contemplated that a plurality of planar members 24 may be mounted to the wall 14 and aligned horizontally. Decorative elements 16 which can be longer or shorter than the planar members 24 may be adjustably secured to the planar members 24 as discussed above. This means that the length of the decorative elements 16 does not need to be matched to the length of the planar members 24. There may be more or less decorative elements 16 compared to the number of planar members 24.

Referring back to FIG. 1, an object 30 may be placed on the planar member 24. The decorative element 16 may extend above the upper surface of the planar member 24 to prevent or stop the object 30 from falling off of the shelf 12. Additionally, the decorative element 16 may extend below the lower surface of the planar member. In FIG. 2, the decorative element 16 hides the bracket 26. Additionally, any under counter lighting attached to the lower surface of the planar member 24 may also be hidden from frontal view by the decorative element.

The decorative element 16 is shown as having a particular design. However, other designs for the decorative element 16 are also contemplated and implemented with the various aspects and embodiments discussed herein.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of securing the decorative element 16 to the planar member 24. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for improving aesthetics of a shelf, system comprising: a decorative element attachable to the front portion of a planar member of the shelf; a bracket having top and bottom members and an upper front member connecting the top and bottom members, the top member resting on a top surface of the planar member to support the decorative element, the bottom member having a plurality of holes; a plurality of fasteners insertable into the plurality of holes in the bottom member to take up a gap between the bottom member and a bottom surface of the planar member.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the decorative element has left and right ends which are mirror configurations of each other so that adjacent decorative elements are capable of being connected end to end to create an appearance of a single decorative element.
 3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a foam adhesive strip insertable between the top member and the top surface of the shelf during installation to level and align the decorative element and to align adjacent decorative elements.
 4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a lower front member attached to the upper front member, the upper and lower front members having a plurality of holes for securing the decorative element to the upper and lower front members.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the bracket is fabricated from a rigid polyvinyl chloride material.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the decorative element is fabricated from a polymeric material.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the polymeric material is polyvinyl chloride material.
 8. The system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fasteners are expandable after insertion of the fastener into the hole to lock the fastener in place.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the upper front member has a plurality of holes and the lower front member has a plurality of holes, the fasteners being inserted into the plurality of holes in opposing directions.
 10. A method of attaching and leveling a decorative element to a shelf, the method comprising the steps of: attaching a first decorative element to a first planar member mounted to a wall, the attaching the first decorative element comprising the steps of: securing a first bracket to the first planar member; securing the first decorative element to the first bracket; leveling the first decorative element, the leveling step comprising the step of: adjusting vertical positioning of left and right sides of the first bracket.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the adjusting vertical positioning step comprises the step of: inserting a compressible foam between the first bracket and the first planar member; compressing the compressible foam to adjust for the vertical position of the bracket.
 12. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: attaching a second decorative element to a second planar member mounted to the wall, the attaching the second decorative element comprising the steps of: securing a second bracket to the second planar member; securing the second decorative element to the second bracket; leveling the first and second decorative elements to each other, the leveling step comprising the step of: adjusting vertical positioning of each of the first and second brackets until the first and second decorative elements are leveled to each other. 